Great Stories Starring Sherlock, and a Wonderful Find

What a busy week it's been: I attended a writing workshop,  I finished the story collection,  Beyond Watson, I found just the right book for my next Sherlock story, and a furry visitor -- the cute little rabbit that started visiting our back yard.reminded me that it's always great to celebrate the small things.

First, I'll start with  the book I found: In my neighborhood, someone in a a home on the corner of F & 25th has started a "little free library." I've read of these: A small box atop a post with shelves and a glass door--you can take books for free and leave books for others to take for free. On my walk yesterday, I passed it and peeked in, and what to my wondering eyes did appear . . .

Yes! just the reference I need at my fingertips to help with a story idea that's rolling around in my head for a new Sherlock-related tale -- and we're going to be traveling, so I can't take my shelf-load of Sherlcock-related books. This was beyond cool. (I did leave a generous load of books return.)

Then there is the matter of reading the rest of the marvelous story collection, Beyond Watson. It's been way busy lately, and then I came down with a really horrible cold. But it gave me time to put my feet up and finish my Beyond Watson reading feast:

Let me give you some snapshot reviews of the remaining stories I hadn't yet read.

Previously I gave little thumbnail reviews to 
three of the stories on June 27th HERE and four more stories on August 4th,  HERE . Check them out again, and then read the rest, as I did with great pleasure. Here are 5 more. 

     Mine, "Kidnapped," stars Imogene, Rusty, and Sherlock again, as well as Imogene's trusty cook, Mrs. Parker. Rusty gets kidnapped in this story, and more than that, I will not say.
     In David Ruffle's "The Tarlton Affair" someone in Sherlock Holmes's past shows up to confront him about a nefarious murder plot in which Sherlock actually played a significant role.This story, BTW, is full of twists and surprises--something I always enjoy in a mystery, and you will, too.
     In Jack McDevitt's "The Lost Equation," during a trip to London, the American journalist, H. L. Mencken, helps Sherlock Holmes unravel a case involving Einstein's famous equation, E=mc².  Apparently a young physics student discovered particle theory two years before Einstein did, then died shortly afterward, at age 32, of a stroke. Why? And was it a stroke?
     In "An Adventure in the Mid-day Sun," by Daniel D. Victor, fifteen-year-old Raymond Chandler (yes, that Raymond Chandler) is working as a page at 221 Baker Street. On a fateful day, he witnesses a murder in the back alley and is about to be next, when a mysterious boy he's seen lurking about rescues him. Stolen pearls, a part in a play, blackmail . . . and a clever surprise at the end!
     Last, but not least, "Some Notes Upon the Matter of John Douglas," by David Marcum, involves an interview in the Dartmoor Prison with Sebastian Moran, whom Holmes has described as "the second most dangerous man in London." Moran's status in this tale comes from being Professor Moriarty's right hand man, (Moriarty being the "first most dangerous man in London"). In this interview he recalls a case when an American came to Moriarty to basically arrange a hit on a Pinkerton detective (in England under the new name, John Douglas) who brought down a crime ring in America. But what a tangled tale this becomes, and one with effects far into the future.

So, run, don't walk . . . or at least let your fingers do the running . . . and get a copy of this fine collection HERE. You won't regret it. 

Third,  I went to a writing workshop about getting published on September 9th and pitched my cozy mystery (alas, not involving Holmes or Watson) to two agents. I got two requests: one for a full, one for a partial. (Which means, I know, only that the pitch sounded good and they'd like to see more.) Still, I'm over the moon. Especially since it seems I've learned how to write the dreaded pitch, something that has always terrified me.

And now -- the bunny I'm celebrating. It may sound strange to celebrate the arrival of a little cottontail rabbit who has decided to make our back yard one of his favorite visiting spots. But a few days ago, that's just what happened. He comes almost every day, now, and munches on our grass and, I fervently hope, the weeds I haven't had time to pull. And he is just too cute. 

Celebrate the Small Things  is a blog hop co-hosted by Lexa Cain at: Lexa Cain,  L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge , and Tonja Drecker @ Tidbits Blog. (You can click on any of these sites to add your name to the links, if you want to participate. I recommend it, because it's fun to see positive news that others are celebrating, and to share your own as well.  A dose of the positive is always refreshing.)

More Stories from Beyond Watson

Political conventions, doctor appointments, and working on query letters have delayed my continued reviews of Beyond Watson stories, but now I'm back to share four more tales in this collection with you.

Perhaps what I'm enjoying most about the stories is how different they are from one another. They all capture the "Victorian" tone of storytelling, but each author has a distinct voice. A second factor is the contrast between a short story and a novel. For quite a few years, I've been mainly reading novels. I had forgotten how pleasurable it is to dip into something you can finish in one sitting, compared to the commitment a novel takes and the vexation you feel when you have to put it down because of unfinished tasks hovering in the wings.

So: to the four stories I'm highlighting today:

Don Everett Smith, Jr.'s "The Curse of Cairgannham" weaves back and forth in time and location. It's narrated during "the second year of the Second World War." An 85-year old retired American newsman, Larkin Cobb, looks back on the time he was sent by his editor in New Jersey to interview Sherlock Holmes in England. Cobb ended up assisting Holmes to catch a mysterious figure terrorizing the farming community of Cairgannham. For reasons I can't tell you, Cobb is inspired by this memory as WWII rages on.

Luke Benjamin Kuhns's "The Tiger's Master" is narrated by a minister's wife, Violet Thane, who is  none other than Violet Hunter, the governess Holmes rescued in Doyle's "The Copper Beeches." (It's always fun to meet a character in one story who is a character in another story.) As the minister's wife, Violet has won the confidence of wives in the parish. Thus, Daisy Jones confides in her that thugs assaulted Mr. Jones, leaving him for dead—this some days after he discovered a stranger their back garden. Remembering the way Holmes approached her dilemma when she was a governess, Violet soon discovers nefarious plans afoot and helps Holmes unravel a case full of surprises.

Kieran Lyne's "The Adventure of the White Cedar Hotel" is narrated by Percival Tremayne, a loyal if perplexed employee who functions as butler and jack of all trades for the mysterious hotel owner, William Walberswick. Walberswick has created a sense of privilege to stay at the White Cedar, despite his truly odd rules—one of which is that hotel guests must enter and exit from the back entrance. Recently a new arrival, Monsieur Todd, has started making up his own rules, offending other guests. He seems to have Mr. Walberswick at some disadvantage, which is why Tremayne asks Holmes to investigate. And quite an interesting game is "afoot" here.

And then there is Derrick Belanger's delightful story, "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Sherlock Holmes." Bert Provencher, a mailman, stops by his favorite speakeasy, and notices again a father drowning his sorrows in beer, his sad, young daughter (Virginia) at his side. Today Virginia has a copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Hoping to cheer the father and daughter up, Bert launches into the story of how he actually met the real Sherlock Holmes. Amid scoffing remarks of friends in the bar, Bert persists in recounting that fateful day when Sherlock Holmes changed his life forever. A brilliant gem of a tale that left me smiling at the end.

You can get your copy of Beyond Watson at:

AMAZON        and         BARNES&NOBLE      (among other sites) 

Question for you: If you were going to write a story about Sherlock Holmes, who would you choose for a narrator?

Beyond Watson Stories

This post is not a "celebration" post (although a few weeks ago I did celebrate the publication of Beyond Watson.) In the coming weeks, though, in addition to Friday celebrations, I'm going to be posting about the other stories in this great collection.

With much pleasure, I'm working my way through them. I'm purposely going slowly, as I want to appreciate each story for itself. So far I've read three, and each is a gem:

Geri Shear's "Mrs. Hudson's Lodger" tells how Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock Holmes met. You'd be surprised. One of my favorite painters, the English landscapist William Turner (or J. M. W. Turner, more formally) is involved. The characterizations of Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock Holmes are excellent. The story, charming and completely engrossing, flows beautifully.

Marcia Wilson's "The Mortal Condition," takes place during a stake-out on a cold winter night. In this atmospheric tale, a reader sees Sherlock Holmes through the eyes of Lestrade, the inspector who is so often overshadowed by Holmes. Lestrade turns out to be a deeply philosophical and sympathetic character whose observations cast new light on The Great Detective and his partner, Watson. By the time I finished the story, Wilson's setting was so real that I felt I had actually been there and experienced the cold and damp, the ominous shadows.

Richard Paolinelli's "A Lesson in Mercy" is a brilliant reminiscence by none other than Sir Winston Churchill. (I love it when historical figures are pulled into a Sherlock Holmes story!) The famous prime minister shares an incident that he considers "the darkest time in my career." What that event was, you'll just have to read the story to find out. But the characters are engaging, and we get young Churchill's view of both Holmes and Watson.

Now I'm starting Derrick Belanger's "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Sherlock Holmes." (Belanger as in Belanger Books.) With typical modesty and support of the other authors, Belanger put his story last in the anthology. Reading the collection, I started at the beginning, and was working my way down. But then my husband read "Yes, Virginia . . ." and his reactions were such that I simply had to skip ahead and read it now. I'll be sharing that and other stories next time.

Meanwhile, you can order Beyond Watson at:
AMAZON

How about you? Do you have any story collections to recommend? Do you like the idea of seeing Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson through new eyes?

Four Things to Celebrate

 
As many of you know, my husband and I come to Galicia spring and fall -- usually the most comfortable seasons in Galicia, although this time they have had a delayed spring, so it's been rainier and chillier than usual. Always beautiful, though, as you can see. Meanwhile, our wonderful neighbor is looking after our house in Sacramento, so we are very grateful.

I'm also celebrating the fact that I've rewritten the first five chapters of my mystery novel. It was worth the wait, once I'd had it critiqued. Some of you may remember it looked like this:
 

There was much to think over, as you can see, and I'm glad I didn't just jump in and start revising right away. I've a much better idea about how I want to handle scenes and characters, and if I'd started too soon, it would have been like knitting rows and rows on a sweater and then needing to rip them out again. Now the book knows where it's going. (At least so far.)


A third thing to celebrate: I've mentioned before the Kickstarter campaign for coming anthology, Beyond Watson, in which twelve stories involving Sherlock Holmes will use differing viewpoints than the traditional Dr. Watson perspective. One of my stories starring Imogene (& Rusty) will be included.
The Kickstarter campaign was a huge success. The book will be coming out in June, and you can expect to see this cover again (as well as read some teasers) in the next two months.  Meanwhile, if you have projects you'd like funded, by all means visit KICKSTARTER to learn more about what kinds of projects they fund and how to go about starting a campaign of your own.

Last, but not least, we were fortunate last night to hear the great María do Ceo, a renowned fadista, perform in a concert in the Casa da Cultura in Sober (an interesting town few miles away that offers many musical and cultural events.) She lives in Galicia but is originally from Portugal, the birthplace of Fado. I originally heard her sing in August of 2013, when friends Terri & David took me to a performance at Rectoral de Castillon. (I blogged about it HERE ) Rajan and I were taking turns in Galicia that summer, while the other took care of our sick dog, so I was alone on that particular trip, but that was when I discovered Fado.

The following April, we went with friends, Craig and Melanie to hear María do Ceo sing at a town called Quiroga, an hour away, and I blogged about it HERE.  That was when Rajan discovered Fado,  too, and we've both been hooked every since. We've hoped many times to catch another performance in Galicia, but she has always been singing somewhere that would involve a very long drive in an unfamiliar location for us.

But: three days ago, our friends, Craig and Melanie, alerted us to the concert in Sober, and we all went together last night to hear her. She was marvelous, as usual. She was featuring songs from a new CD -- which we bought, of course, and had her autograph. She's a very gracious lady and even remembered me from before, which was so nice!

Here she is, kindly allowing me to have a selfie with her:


If you have never heard Fado before, listening to her singing is a wonderful introduction. You can go to here WEBSITE 

And this is her new album:

 How about you? Do you have a favorite singer you go out of your way to hear? What is your favorite music? Are you involved in a rewrite of a story or book?  How do you approach your own rewrites? Do you have to mull them over for a long time? Or can you jump right in after you've have feedback? 

Meanwhile, 

Celebrate the Small things is a blog hoop co-sponsored by Lexa Cain at: Lexa Cain,  L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge , and Tonja Drecker @ Tidbits Blog. You can go to any of these sites to add your name to the links, if you want to participate. I recommend it, because it's always fun to see positive news that others are celebrating, and to share your own as well. 

I'm a bit late celebrating this week, as life has been pretty busy. But I always like to join in this celebration when I can. Celebrate the Small things is a blog hop co-sponsored by Lexa Cain @ Lexa Cain , L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge , and Tonja Drecker @ Tidbits Blog. You can go to any of these sites to add your name to the links, if you want to participate. I recommend it, because it's always fun to see positive news that others are celebrating, and to share your own as well. 

Today I'm celebrating the Kickstarter Campaign I mentioned last week for the anthology of Sherlock Holmes stories that will be published in June.  The campaign started last week and has been amazingly successful so far. It runs until the end of this month, and if you join in, you can win prizes -- among them, a copy of the book when it comes out. If you go to THIS SITE and scroll down the page, in the right margin you will see what the prizes are for each level of support. The book will have 12 original tales about Sherlock Holmes, told from different perspectives  than Dr. Watson. (Thus the title -- Beyond Watson).

I'm also celebrating my niece's new CD, Enjoy the Ride, that will be released April 8th. She's a blues singer (Debbie Bond) and lives in Alabama with her husband, Radiator Rick. I'm a proud auntie, for sure. At this point, in the States, they play mainly on the east coast, but they've toured in Europe several times, and we are hoping to get them out here to California some day. You can hear a teaser from the album HERE, and learn more about her at her website HERE.  Go have a listen.

Happy Easter, and may you have a basketful of things to celebrate!

This is kinda big, actually

 Celebrate the Small things is blog hop co-sponsored by Lexa Cain @ Lexa Cain , L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge , and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog, and you can go to any of these sites to get all the links and add your name to the links, if you want to participate. I recommend it, because it's always fun to see positive news that others are celebrating, and to share your own as well. 

Today I'm celebrating the launch that begins tomorrow of a new anthology, Beyond Watson, coming out in June. It will have 12 original tales about Sherlock Holmes, told from different perspectives, the majority not Dr. Watson's. The anthology comes out in June and will be a real keeper. A story by me -- "Kidnapped" -- will be included, and it was so much fun to write.


But I've had the good fortune to read some of the other stories, and they are just delightful. One such story is "Mrs. Hudson's Lodger" by Geri Shear, which tells how Mrs. Hudson met Sherlock Holmes.

Here's a little taster: It was the spring of 1877. I was with my friend and neighbour Mrs Prescott and we were examining some ancient manuscripts. Such pretty illustrations. Suddenly she froze. Mrs Prescott, I mean, and hissed, “Oh dear, come quickly into another room, Mrs Hudson. I cannot bear to see that insufferable young man.” The young man in question is Sherlock Holmes, new to London, and already set on solving crimes. And a very interesting crime indeed has been visited on Mrs. Hudson. 

The anthology comes out in June. Watch for it. Beyond Watson, published by Belanger Books.

What are some of your favorite anthologies?